A house...

I rent a double storey house here...

The 3 of us came to live under one roof. One is an officemate of mine from KL while the other, i got to know him by accident as he was also looking for a house to rent. Both of them are not really in the picture when i chose the house. Best to say, they seemed to rely on me to find a house. I don't mind, really. It meant i got to chose a house i really like rather than just decide democraticly.

Yup, our humble rental house.

I went for house hunt twice before reporting for duty with fellow friends. We did try to search through the net. Managed to get some info. At last we just went from place to place, taking a look whether there was any 'house for rent' signs. Desperate to get a house, we went door to door. Asking the neighbours whether the house next door was empty.

my room...

We stumbled upon the house quite last minute. Another group of transfers found a house in the same row as ours. They told me about the house. Originally, the owner wanted to sale the house. Somehow, i managed to rent it from her. The owner lived in another state. She owned few houses on that row. The house was empty. the rooms has basic book/ clothing rack. It is ingenious and creative that way. I don't need a wardrobe and i can stack nything on the rack.

I've never rented a house before. I've been living with my parents. We live on our own home. Plus it is easy to go to my previous workplace. There was no need to live by my own. Because of that, i've decided that from day one, my rental house must have basics. My room must have a bed, a vanity and a rack to hang my clothes. The house must have a fridge, a TV and a washing machine. The stove isn't a must as i could always eat out, a sofa for the living room is not really needed as i could just sit on the floor. My friends says that you go small than add more thing to the house as time goes by.

Nope. That's not the way i roll. I don't want to spent my first nite by sleeping on the floor. From the get go, everything must be there. So my first nite in the house was really smooth. Got a soft bed to sleep well in it...he..he..Then, my housemate brings the stove, the sofa and other things. I add astro and next would be streamyx. Now, the house is complete but we don't have a dining table just yet. Need to think further on that. But it was homey which is important to me so that i would feel okay working in the new place.

That's on my rental home. My housemate is good and we got along well. Thank God...

BABI...

Really, wild boar...

A family of wild boar.
Guess where did i took this picture?

I have heard about the co-existance of wild boars among the housing estate in my area. Never thought they were so big. All the upside down trash can and the rubbish that seems to the work of dogs are actually the result of the boar's mischief.  

And today, early this evening i saw it all. I saw how a family of boars picknicking in a non-sealed trash can. throwing the rubbish everywhere. Making the place like their own restaurant. As evidenced above, this is a family of boars. The father and mother with their young. 3....4 little piglets? The parents are teaching their younglings about the best food in town...he..he...

As i caught this picture in front of my house, i just couldn't believe these boars seems had no hint of fear againts the humans. Wish i had a gun and shot them all...(how mean am i?)

P/s : The piglets seems cute with streaks of brownish fur...heh!

CSR...

Corporate Social Responsibility...

I've been involved in my company's CSR activities since my first year working. The decision was influenced by my chindian friend. He brought me to the program at this particular school just to gain my interest. Since then i've been hooked to the program.

It wasn't that difficult to convince me to stay on with the activities. Ever since i was at school, i always like to be involved in extra curricular activities... club, societies, organising committies and so on. You can say that i am one of those students who like a bit of power and attention.

Listing down all the things i do at school you'll get the picture. At my secondary school, i was the school's prefect, the head librarian, the hostel's prefect, the english room committee, club treasurer, committees of several programs and etc. Actually i wasn't that popular and i wasn't trying to be popular. Just that i was trusted and given all those positions by my teachers and peers. Am i a teacher's pet? No...a BIG NO...

At U, i'd joined a club under the counselling department. In the club, i learn about how to be a facilitator. It's a step by step program from being an ordinary members...to an co-faci then to a full fledged faci. I'd also been elected as the head faci for the club. We had organised lots of motivational programs outside the U and also been invited to held programs in schools and communities. I gained lot of experiences with the club. How to deal with different people with different mannerism. How to control situation from escalating. How to hold and coordinate programs. How to deal with authorities. It really helps me in my degree. To those uninitiated, i got a degree in psychology.

I learn about mentoring in another club at U. In this club, i learn something new. I learn about the importance of guidance in our life. Learning about how we could be significant in other people's life even when we don't really realise it. I learn how to be a role model. Learn to be optimistic in life. Learning to take something as it is, trying not to judge that much. Learning to take life positively. I was active in both clubs. So much that every weekends, there would be some kind of activity for me.  I'd juggled the activities between the clubs so that there would not clashed. I learn to schedule my time.

These 2 clubs are not the only curricular activities i joined. There are othe societies also. The Psychology Students Society among others. All this doesn't mean that i don't have social life. I do enjoy outings with my friends.

Anyways, this posting is about CSR. So, as i said it wasn't difficult to gain my interest. Since i started to work, i've been loooking for something to fill my weekends. I don't really like to stay in my room or to be a couch potato at weekends. I also don't want to just go to the movies or karaoke'ing each weekend. Thus, the CSR program became my extra curricular thing. From just coming to the program, i became a fici and quickly became a head faci. My kids are facing UPSR this year. I've been with them since they're in year 4. I am nervous. I hope they do well eventhough academic achievement is not the aim of the CSR program.

This CSR program is not just filling my weekends. I love my kids. i really think they had learn a thing or 2 with the program. I really enjoy the time i spent with them no matter how exhausting it may be...

P/s : Good luck in UPSR, do your best! 

Kita minum dulu...

Di dalam sebuah kelas falsafah, seorang profesor berdiri di hadapan dewan kuliah, meja di hadapannya terdapat beberapa barangan. Tanpa sepatah perkataan, kelas bermula dengan beliau mengambil sebuah balang mayonis yang besar dan mengisinya dengan bola golf.

Dia kemudian bertanya kepada para pelajarnya, adakah balang tersebut penuh, dan pelajarnya menjawab "Ya!". Profesor kemudian mengambil sekotak batu kerikil halus dan menuangkannya ke dalam balang yang telah dipenuhi bola golf tadi, lantas menggoncang balang tersebut dengan lembut. Bebatu kerikil mengisi ruangan kosong di antara bola-bola golf. Sekali lagi dia bertanya akan pelajarnya sama ada balang tersebut telah penuh, pelajarnya lantas menjawab "Ya..."

Tanpa menjelaskan apa-apa kepada pelajarnya, profesor tersebut lantas mengambil pula sebuah kotak yang berisi pasir dan menuangkannya ke dalam balang tersebut. Pasir yang dituang mengisi ruangan di antara batu kelikir dan bola golf. Seperti tadi dia bertanya lagi kepada para pelajarnya sama ada balang tersebut telah penuh. Dalam keadaan yang penuh persoalan, rata-rata pelajarnya menjawab "Ya.."

Sejurus selepas itu, profesor itu kemudiannya mengeluarkan dua cawan kopi  dari bawah mejanya dan menuangkan kedua-duanya ke dalam balang yang telah sedia ada diisi batu golf, batu kerikil dan pasir tersebut. Air kopi mengisi ruangan yang terdapat di antara pasir. Para pelajar mula ketawa dan tersenyum meihat tindakan profesor tersebut.

"Sekarang..." profesor mula bersuara apabila riuh rendah dan gelak ketawa pelajarnya berkurangan. "Saya mahu anda semua menganggap balang ini sebagai kehidupan anda...Bola-bola golf mewakili perkara penting - Tuhan, keluarga anda, anak-anak, kesihatan anda, kawan-kawan dan semangat anda - Jika anda kehilangan segalanya dan hanya perkara penting ini yang masih anda ada, hidup anda masih penuh. Batu kerikil halus ini pula mewakili perkara-perkara lain seperti kerja anda, rumah atau kereta anda, manakala pasir pula mewakili perkara-perkara lain, yakni perkara-perkara kecil."

"Jika anda memasukkan pasir ke dalam balang dahulu...anda tidak akan mempunyai ruang untuk batu kerikil dan bola golf. Ini sama juga seperti kehidupan anda. Jika anda menghabiskan masa dan tenaga untuk  perkara-perkara kecil, anda tidak akan mempunyai ruang untuk perkara yang sebenarnya lebih penting untuk diri anda." 

"Ambil perhatian untuk perkara yang kritikal untuk kebahagiaan anda.Luangkan masa gembira untuk anak-anak. Sentiasa melakukan pemeriksaan kesihatan, bawa pasangan anda untuk makan malam, yang pasti, anda akan masih ada masa untuk membersihkan rumah atau urusan lain. Sila ambil berat akan bola golf dahulu - iaitu perkara yang benar-benar penting. Tetapkan keutamaan. Perkara lain cumalah pasir..."

Salah seorang pelajarnya mengangkat tangan dan bertanya apakah pula yang diwakili oleh air kopi. Profesor tersebut tersenyum. "Saya gembira ada yang bertanya. Ianya  menunjukkan bahawa tidak kira bagaimana penuh pun kehidupan anda, akan sentiasa ada ruang untuk secawan dua kopi bersama rakan-rakan..."

P/s : Renungan untuk semua. Apabila kehidupan kita seakan terlalu penuh dan tampak sukar untuk diuruskan, apabila 24 jam sehari seperti tidak mencukupi, ingatlah kisah 2 cawan kopi ini...

How to be productive at work...

Getting started

Start with understanding and doing your assigned task. Remember, taking the first step is always difficult, but if you do not take that one step you can never achieve your goals. Don't get worried with the task assigned, if it is new to you.   Ask required questions to better understand assigned task. Once you get started, everything will come in easy.

Stay Healthy

Bad health can also be a possible reason for being unproductive. Before you go to work; take your breakfast, rest well and research about your duties.

Make an appointment with yourself

Give yourself at least 30 minutes during the day. This will enable you to concentrate and focus your attention on the matters at hand. Give yourself time to think and concentrate as you tackle your job and projects. These uninterrupted 30 minutes will give fruitful results in the long run.

Utilize your prime time

We all have a specific time of the day when we have lots of vigor and zest and a greater ability to think and concentrate. Work out when you have your high energy levels and tackle your most important work at that time. Try to arrange meetings, appointments and other activities at another time of the day.

Avoid unplanned meetings

Spontaneous meetings are real interrupters as well as huge time-wasters and productivity destroyers. They break your concentration, disturb your thought process while undermine your momentum. The next time someone comes into your office or sits by your desk and start making him/herself comfortable, say that you are in the middle of an important project. Then ask if you could get together at a mutually convenient time later in the day or week. This is called a polite excuse.

Schedule your meetings with staff and colleagues

In most offices, time is wasted when people get up from their desks to ask their colleagues a question. Fix a specific time to meet colleagues for queries. Best is the time slot which does not fall in the peak hours of work.

Take breaks

It is a fact that taking breaks periodically during the day relax your body and nerves and refreshes you for the tasks ahead. Ensure that you take small breaks all day. It could be a walk to the water cooler from your office/room or a visit to the photocopy machine/fax/ printer.

Planning required

Establish a routine of listing your daily and weekly tasks. This will allow you to have your most productive week all the time. Start your day an extra 15 minutes early to do this planning every day. Write down the top 3 important things you must do that day. Plan your upcoming week on Sunday evening.

Drop unimportant tasks

Delete the non-essential items from your to-do list. The best way to do this is to prioritize and complete your most important things first.

Enjoy your time at work

Being productive and competitive in official business doesn't mean that you have to be serious all the time. Smiling doesn't mean you're not working hard. Be enthusiastic as well as competitive. Stay positive, that way you can face and win challenges better.

Be a Team Player

Don't be afraid to collaborate with others. Don't wait for your boss to tell you what to do.

Learn from criticism

Be a sport and never immediately reject critiques from others, even if you do not like or respect them. Sometimes people you do not like may be giving you more honest feedback than you can get from others.

Acclimatize

Adapting is in the nature of living beings. Those who do not adapt, become extinct.

Upgrade your learning

Always be on the lookout for opportunities to learn and improve your skills. Look for good seminars and training.

p/s: Lots of tips here, some i just can't do yet. It takes time...

Swamped...

I try not to complain...

It has been a whirlwind since my transfer here. We were reminded that our learning curve would be steep. We need to learn the work fast and do it efficiently in a short amount of time. It's like learning to swim when you don't know how to float.

Well, the seniors are helping but at times i felt embarrased to ask for their advice as i felt that i asked questions too often. I'm sure after a while, they too felt fed-up when often than not i would stop them in the middle of the own work to query about something.

With users starting to call requesting me to speed up the process, i do felt overwhelmed. I tried to play it down by saying nothing much and wearing a brave face. Deep inside, i was worried that i might messed up. Me messing up would really affect the daily operations of the oil and gas subsidiaries.

I have to be courageous to face all the demands of my work. I need to make myself efficient in order to excel in doing my job. I must be organised to juggle all the things i need to do.

Oh God, please help me by giving me strength to do this job...

Note :  I didn't even have the time to take out my things from the boxes and arrange them at my cubicle. Need to side time for it!

Your Song...

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words

How wonderful life is while you're in the world

- Elton John

p/s : This song was one of the song i loved in Moulin Rouge cover version by Ewan McGreagor. With all the theatrical elements plus the opera parts in the movie. It seems fit!